What is the medicine "Zolpidem"? Instructions for use, synonyms and indications of this medication will be discussed later.
Form and composition
What does the Zolpidem drug contain? The instruction states that the medication in question consists of such an active substance as zolpidem hemitartrate (10 mg), as well as auxiliary elements. It is available in the form of white tablets, which are placed in blister packs of 15 pieces.
Pharmacological features
How does the drug in question work? What does the instructions for use say about this? Zolpidem is very close to benzodiazepines in its principle of action. This medication is able to exhibit hypnotic, anticonvulsant, amnestic, anxiolytic and sedative properties.
The active element of the drug has a direct effect on the benzodiazepine receptors of the second and first types. It promotes the opening of anionic neuronal channels using GABA receptors, which subsequently leads to an increased current of chlorine.
The interaction of this medication occurs selectively. In this regard, the effect of taking the drug depends on the dose taken. Thus, lower dosages make it possible to achieve amnestic, muscle relaxant and anxiolytic properties and prevent a hypnotic effect.
What is remarkable for this medication? What does the instructions for use say about this? Zolpidem accelerates the process of falling asleep and improves the quality of sleep. It should also be noted that after waking up, the patient does not remain drowsy.
Kinetic properties
How is the absorption of the drug "Zolpidem"? The use of this medication, or rather its dosage depends on the indications. After about 30-110 minutes, the active substance of the drug reaches its maximum level in the blood. Almost all of it binds to plasma proteins, and its bioavailability is 70%.
After entering the liver tissue, the drug undergoes a metabolic reaction, resulting in the formation of inactive derivatives. Some of them are excreted along with urine and about 40% - along with feces.
The half-life of the drug is 150 minutes. With serious violations in the liver, this process lengthens up to 10 hours.
The drug "Zolpidem", instructions for use, the photo of which are presented below, penetrates into breast milk.
What is it prescribed for?
What indications does the drug in question have? What does the instructions for use say about this? Zolpidem is a pill designed to normalize sleep. They are used for night awakenings, insomnia or early recovery.
Bans to use
Like all medicines, the Zolpidem medication, the instruction of which is contained in a pack of cardboard, has its contraindications for use. The drug is not prescribed for:
- allergies to zolpidem or other benzodiazepines;
- severe or acute respiratory failure;
- sleep apnea ;
- pregnancy
- severe liver or kidney disease;
- lactation;
- intolerance;
- at a minor age.
It should also be noted that people who are depressed, as well as alcoholics, drug addicts and suffering from other types of dependence, must be especially careful when taking the medication in question. Otherwise, this may aggravate the patient’s difficult situation.
Instructions for use
"Zolpidem" in tablet form should be taken only before bedtime. The standard dosage of this product is 10 mg per day. For the elderly, the initial dose of the drug may be 5 mg. In urgent need it can be doubled.
The maximum daily amount of Zolpidem is 10 mg. The duration of its use should not exceed more than one month.
For people with transient insomnia, doctors recommend using the drug for 2-5 days, and in case of situational - 14-21 days.
In the event that treatment with Zolpidem continues for several days, then the medication can be stopped abruptly. If the therapy is more than one week, then the dose should be reduced gradually, in order to avoid the development of undesirable reactions.
Side effects
How is Zolpidem tolerated by patients? Instructions for use, reviews claim that in most cases the drug in question does not cause negative reactions. However, there are situations when, against the background of using this medication, the patient still feels the following undesirable effects:
- nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, headache, diarrhea;
- paradoxical insomnia, pain in the stomach, agitation;
- dizziness, nightmares, anterograde amnesia (the risk of developing the latter is directly proportional to the dosage taken).
It should be noted that very rarely "Zolpidem" causes the following reactions:
- irritability, confusion, dysphoria, aggression;
- unusual behavioral reactions, somnambulism, drug dependence;
- skin rashes, problems in the liver, hyperhidrosis, increased levels of liver enzymes, Quincke's edema;
- muscle weakness, itching, decreased sexual activity, urticaria;
- ataxia, diplopia.
Overdose cases
What symptoms of an overdose can the Zolpidem medication cause? Instructions for use informs that in case of abuse of the drug in question or accidentally swallowing many tablets, the patient may experience confusion, ataxia, difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure, coma and lethargy.
In case of an overdose, the patient should induce vomiting as soon as possible (within an hour). Also, the victim must be given enterosorbents.
In the event that the patient is unconscious, then the stomach is washed with a probe, and symptomatic therapy is also performed.
Interaction with other means
Is it acceptable to take Zolpidem with other medicines? Instructions for use (a prescription for the purchase of this medicine should be prescribed only by an experienced doctor) states that a drug like Ketoconazole can almost double the half-life of the drug. In addition, this medication can enhance the effect of CNS depression.
Concurrent administration of a drug with alcohol often leads to a pronounced sedative effect of the drug, as well as its overdose.
The medicine "Rifampicin" significantly speeds up the metabolism, reduces the effectiveness and concentration of the taken tablets.
Cautious appointment
What medicines should I use the Zolpidem medication with extreme caution? Instructions for use (product analogs are listed below) reports that the effect of therapy can be negative if the drug in question is combined with:
- anxiolytics, barbiturates, antiepileptic drugs and narcotic analgesics;
- sleeping pills, antipsychotics, centrally acting antitussives and antidepressants;
- antihistamines with sedative effect, drugs for general anesthesia;
- Pisotifenom, Baclofenum, and Thalidomide.
It should be noted that when combining this medication with Buprenorphine, the risk of developing respiratory center depression is significantly increased.
The drug "Zolpidem" with "Intraconazole" is allowed to combine, but with extreme caution, since in this case, it is possible to change the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters of the first drug.
Special information
What you need to know about Zolpidem? Instructions for use (in tablets this product is sold in almost all pharmacies) states that with prolonged treatment (approximately 20-30 days), the patient may develop mental or physical dependence on the drug. A similar reaction is especially susceptible to those who have previously observed dependence on alcoholic beverages and other substances. In this regard, such a group of patients should be kept under constant control, as well as periodically monitor their mental and physical condition.
It should be emphasized that the risk of developing dependence increases significantly if the drug in question is combined with other benzodiazepines.
When taking Zolpidem, the patient must take into account that within 8 hours after taking the pill he should be in comfortable sleeping conditions, otherwise he may develop anterograde amnesia.
If after several weeks of treatment insomnia has not passed, the patient must reevaluate the condition. Most likely, such a paradoxical reaction is a consequence of primary mental disorders.
In the course of treatment with the considered tool, a person must refrain from performing actions that require an increased concentration of attention, as well as from driving a car.
Some people may develop unusual behavioral disorders and mental reactions while taking Zolpidem (especially the elderly). In this case, you should immediately stop taking the drug.
In the presence of liver disease, the active substance of the drug can accumulate in the body, and subsequently lead to undesirable effects.
With extreme caution, this drug should be prescribed to the elderly. This is due to the fact that they have a high risk of developing a sedative and muscle relaxant effect, which can lead to falls and injuries.
Expiration date, conditions of sale, storage
Due to the fact that the drug in question is addictive, for its acquisition it is necessary to have a medical prescription. It is desirable to store such a medicine in a place that is well protected from children, at a temperature of no more than 25 degrees. The shelf life of the drug is three years.
Similar tools and synonyms
The most common drugs for insomnia, which are analogues of Zolpidem, are the following: Andante, Donormil, Sondoks, Barboval, Zopiclon, Sonmil, Imovan.
As for synonyms, they include: “Hypnogen”, “Ivadal”, “Zolsana”, “Oniria”, “Snovitel”, “Sanval”, “Nitrest”.
Lactation and pregnancy
The effect of the drug in question on pregnant women has not been studied. However, the results of studies that were conducted on laboratory rats claim that this medication has a teratogenic effect. In this regard, taking the medicine "Zolpidem" during gestation is highly not recommended.
We can not say that the sleeping pill in a small amount is able to penetrate into breast milk. Therefore, lactation during treatment should be discontinued.
Customer reviews and the cost of the drug
You can buy Zolpidem medication in almost any pharmacy by presenting a pharmacist with a medical prescription. The average cost of this medicine (10 tablets) is about 820-900 rubles. Patients claim that this is a rather high price for sleeping pills. However, experts say that the cost of this drug is justified, since it helps a lot with insomnia and poor sleep. Most consumers fully agree with the latest statement. They respond well to the medication, but only if they take it strictly as directed by a doctor or as directed.
In their reports, patients say that the drug in question allows them to fall asleep normally and quickly, as well as sleep well after suffering stress. However, Zolpidem tablets also have negative aspects. For example, they can cause adverse reactions, which most often develop with hypersensitivity to the active substance of the drug or failure to adhere to the regimen. The most common negative effects are: headaches, dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations. In this case, the patient may develop addiction, especially when the drug is combined with alcoholic beverages.